Must Read: The Promise Keeper - Season 1 - Episode 5

7 years ago

Must Read: The Promise Keeper - Season 1 - Episode 5

“Oft expectation fails, and most oft where most it promises; and oft it hits where hope is coldest; and despair most sits”
(William Shakespeare)
“It’s almost four,” Fabio said absently, “kitchen will open soon. Shade said I could bring you back something ’til you feel better. She won’t do it for long so you got to get better.”
“Shade?” I asked.
“She runs the kitchen,” Fabio said incredulously, “don’t you know anything?

You’re lucky I found you.” He was shaking his head as he headed off beyond the bridge supports. He acted like the whole world knew about the kitchen.

I lay on the cardboard mattress feeling physically better than when I woke. I closed my eyes and saw my flawed vision of Dolapo. “I miss you baby,” I whispered. The vision didn’t improve. I had already lost perfection and I knew it would only fade more over time.

My grief returned and I wished Fabio hadn’t left. I needed his simplicity, as strange as it was.

Fabio returned as the sun began to set. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed because my watch was in the bottom of the river. It was kind of nice not caring what time it was. I have spent my whole life watching a clock. All that happened was time ran out for Dolapo and me. Now time could just sU-Ck itself.
“I got you some fried yam and a sachet water,” Fabio said as he handed me the food in some old newspaper sheets. Strangely, it seemed like a feast. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I smelled the cold yam.
“Got to eat out here,” Fabio pointed to the cement. “Don’t want flies feasting.” More homeless wisdom. I crawled out and sat up slowly. I was starting to figure out how to move with the least amount of pain. The lower left side of my back felt like it had been hit with a sledge hammer. If I kept myself tucked a little to the left, I could withstand more movement.
“Thanks, Fabio,” I said sincerely, “I owe you.” Fabio smiled and nodded. I was getting the hang of this favour thingy. Just acknowledge the debt and pay it back in kind in the future. If only the rest of life were that simple. I dug into the yam and it disappeared quickly. Even cold, the seasonings in the stew partied with my tongue in a snappy way. I was kind of wishing there was more. I emptied the sachet water in one swoop. I made a ball of the newspaper sheets and looked around for a waste can or something. Fabio laughed and grabbed it out of my hand, walked down to the river and threw it in. Pollution was obviously not part of his ethos.